How Did They do That?

The Roman temple to the gods, completed by Emperor Hadrian

THE PANTHEON

For the Romans, gods were powerful beings with a huge energy that could become fearsome if they were angered, which is why it was so important to reach an agreement with them. The existence of Rome, they thought, was due to an agreement between Romulus and Remus and the gods, deciding the location of the city. This way, the Roman religion that was practised at home and in the temples was focused more on social protection than personal relationships with deities.

ILLUSTRATION: SOL 90 IMAGES X1, ALAMY X2, GETTY X1

AGRIPPA’S PANTHEON

Before this monumental structure was built, Emperor Agrippa constructed a temple on the site that dates back to the 1st century BC. It was destroyed in the year 110, and Emperor Hadrian built the Pantheon on its remains, probably one or two decades later.